Grammys Will Now Consider Streaming Only Releases for Awards Eligibility

The victory this morning isn't about me, it's about all the Soundcloud albums that may now be recognized for excellence.

— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) June 16, 2016

Original Story

In a press release issued today (June 16) the Recording Academy announced that streaming only recordings will now be eligible for Grammy consideration, taking effect for the 2017 Grammy Awards with the eligibility schedule between Oct. 1, 2015 and Sept. 30, 2016.

According to the Academy, this applies to music “released via general distribution, defined as the nationwide release of a recording via brick and mortar, third-party online retailers, and/or applicable digital streaming services. Applicable streaming services are paid subscription, full catalog, on-demand streaming/limited download platforms that have existed as such within the United States for at least one full year as of the submission deadline.”

If any of this sounds familiar, that’s because Chance the Rapper lobbied for free music to be considered by the Academy just last month and signed a petition to draw attention to the cause. Based on this ruling, Chance’s Coloring Book would be eligible for next year’s nominations.

“The Grammys aren’t just peer-awarded, they’re peer-driven. Throughout the year, members of the music community come to us asking to make changes to the Awards process, and we work with them to figure out how those changes might work,” Bill Freimuth, Senior Vice President of Awards for the Recording Academy, said. “I’m proud of this year’s changes because they’re a testament to the artists, producers, writers – the people who rolled up their sleeves to shape the proposals and, in turn, the future of the Grammys. It’s exactly what they should be doing. It’s their award.”